By: COLIN REESE
In a previous edition of this column, World Soccer Source backed Greg Garza at left back with Fabian Johnson at the right attacker spot. Garza is a solid and exciting left back that hasn’t done anything to lose his starting spot, but the re-emergence of Charlie Davies makes Davies too good to not include in the attacking trident with Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, which moves Johnson to left back.
Davies’ form pushes Garza out of the ideal United States Men’s National Team Starting XI for World Soccer Source.
With Michael Bradley injured, the USMNT no longer has the option of starting Bradley, Geoff Cameron, and Mix Diskerud as the midfield three. Now, the USMNT should start Diskerud, Cameron, and Benny Feilhaber as the three-man midfield.
Below is World Soccer Source’s Best USMNT XI for November 2014:
USMNT XI (4-3-3):
GOALKEEPER: Brad GUZAN (Aston Villa)
Even before Tim Howard decided to take time off from international play, Brad Guzan had already made his case to be the USA’s Number 1. Either way, both Howard and Guzan are world-class goalkeepers, and Guzan is the clear first-choice with Howard gone. Guzan has waited his turn, and he is the undisputed USA Number 1.
RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN (Seattle Sounders)
DeAndre Yedlin is the best choice to start at right back because he plays the way that elite outside backs play. Fabian Johnson has an outstanding left-foot, so it makes more sense to use him as a left back than as a right back. Yedlin is also two-footed, but Yedlin at right back with Johnson at left back is the obvious choice to field modern outside backs that can compete with the best. Yedlin is known for his attacking and speed, but his defending is very underrated. Given his speed, it goes without saying that beating Yedlin for pace is very hard to do for any player in world football.
CENTER BACK: Jermaine JONES (New England Revolution)
Using Jermaine Jones at center back was a logical decision by Jürgen Klinsmann. Many clubs and national teams use defensive midfielders as center backs because these really talented defensive midfielders bring better skill on the ball than most center backs, plus they are skilled and experience defenders that are used to making tackles and winning back possession. Using Jones with Brooks is a major upgrade to using Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler in the center of the defense.
CENTER BACK: John BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)
John Brooks has shown more than enough times that he brings excellent technical ability and defending combined with impressive athleticism. It’s hard to see someone taking the left center back spot from Brooks, and there’s no reason to play anyone else there. Even Matt Besler has never shown the type of skill and defending that Brooks has displayed. There’s no comparison between Besler and Brooks.
LEFT BACK: Fabian JOHNSON (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
The resurgence and return to form of Charlie Davies has changed everything for World Soccer Source. While Greg Garza at left back with Fabian Johnson at right attacker or right winger was a great formula for success, the return of Davies means that the USA can use Charlie Davies, Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey as the attacking trident. Yedlin and Johnson as the outside backs gives the USMNT two modern outside backs that bomb forward and track attackers down in the defense. Johnson performs equally well as an outside back or winger, and using him as the left back allows the USA to use its outside backs for its attacking width.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Mix DISKERUD (Rosenborg)
Mix Diskerud has kept his creativity, technical ability, and attacking skill and aggressiveness while tacking on strong two-way play with lots of running. Diskerud has proven to be an excellent ball-winner that covers a lot of territory both in the attack and the defense. Diskerud is allowing Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey to receive more final balls and better service, and Diskerud is connecting the midfield to the attack.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)
With Michael Bradley injured, the USA no longer has the option of using Bradley as a central midfielder with Geoff Cameron as a defensive midfielder. Now, the USA can use Cameron as the defensive midfielder anchoring the midfield with Mix Diskerud and Benny Feilhaber playing slightly in front of him while still providing plenty of defending and lots of running to both keep possession and win back possession. Cameron’s size, athleticism, and defending combined with his technical ability and skilled passing with both feet allows Cameron to collect the ball from the Back Four and feed the likes of Diskerud and Feilhaber and switch the point of attack. Cameron is playing as a “defensive midfielder,” but he knows how to get forward with the attack, set-up goals, and score goals.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Benny FEILHABER (Sporting Kansas City)
There’s no indication that Jürgen Klinsmann will use Benny Feilhaber, but nobody doubts his experience, creativity, and technical ability. Feilhaber is arguably the best playmaker and passer in the American player pool, and he brings a type of creativity, vision, and skill that only Diskerud brings. Using Diskerud and Feilhaber in slightly more advanced roles with Cameron playing deeper is an enticing midfield trio.
RIGHT ATTACKER: Charlie DAVIES (New England Revolution)
Charlie Davies is officially back. Jozy Altidore thrived when partnered with Davies in the attack, and at that point Clint Dempsey was playing as a midfielder. Dempsey is better than Davies, but an attacking trident comprised of Davies, Altidore, and Dempsey is something Klinsmann needs to explore. Davies is not only fast, but very clean and composed on the ball. Davies can play as a second striker, outside forward, or False 9, and Davies and Dempsey floating around and behind Altidore is a legit attacking trident. Unlike the types of attacking set-ups that Klinsmann used in the 2014 World Cup, Davies, Altidore, and Dempsey is one with lots of creativity, speed, and skill. The use of Davies and Dempsey allows the USA to link-up better with Altidore even when Feilhaber and Diskerud happen to be back deeper defending and winning back possession.
STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE (Sunderland)
For World Soccer Source, the skill and the quality of many of the goals that Altidore has scored in recent years overshadow Altidore’s slump playing with Sunderland, which is a club that doesn’t play the kind of soccer that the USA or any other national team is looking to play. Altidore is a quality striker when given attacking support and quality service and final balls. Altidore’s most recent goal for the USA, which he took down off his chest and then cut back on the defender before slamming the ball inside the near post, was an example of how Altidore isn’t just a beast of an athlete but a technical footballer as well.
LEFT ATTACKER: Clint DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)
The American footballer and attacker par excellence, Clint Dempsey has probably four to five more years as the leader and best player on the USMNT. Dempsey has shown not only impressive durability but also constantly improving skill, passing, and goal-scoring ability every year, even though he is over 30. Dempsey is the most important and best player on the USMNT.
USA XI (4-3-3): GUZAN; YEDLIN, JONES, BROOKS, JOHNSON; DISKERUD, CAMERON, FEILHABER; DAVIES, ALTIDORE, DEMPSEY.
This USA XI is in theory a 4-3-3, but Cameron would be playing deeper in the midfield as a defensive midfielder with Altidore up top as the striker. Therefore, the exact tactical formation is fluid and flexible.